Ruthin becomes Denbighshire’s first coach-friendly town

* Dignitaries at the awarding of coach-friendly status to Ruthin. 

Ruthin has been declared Denbighshire’s first coach-friendly town - which will be interest to Llangollen which itself attracts many coaches

Ruthin has been awarded Coach Friendly Town status by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).

It joins the few select places that have also achieved this status in Wales – namely Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, Llandudno and Cardiff.

Heather Williams, Ruthin town councillor and chairman of the working group set up to achieve this status, said:  “A couple of years ago, Denbighshire County Council Tourism Marketing and Events team invited representatives of Denbighshire town/city councils to go on a learning journey to Betws-y-Coed. Whilst there, we had discussions with the Destination Manager of Conwy County Borough Council about how Conwy county had achieved coach friendly status for three towns.

“Following this visit, Ruthin Town Council set up a working group to assess how Ruthin could meet the criteria needed to meet coach friendly status. We are now really pleased to be awarded this prestigious title. We hope that this new status will enable the town to attract more coach tours, and therefore more visitors, to this historic and attractive town.  Ruthin has so much to offer, such as the internationally renowned Craft Centre, the fascinating Gaol and historic timber-framed Nantclwyd y Dre.”

The criteria to achieve coach friendly status includes clear signage for visiting coaches, adequate coach parking provision, facilities for groups and a website providing information for coach groups. 

Ruthin Town Council added additional information to its website to give practical information and details of attractions and trails/tours for coach companies/group organisers. Further information can be found on the website page www.visitruthin.wales/about-ruthin

It is hoped that the award for Ruthin will encourage other places in Denbighshire to work on achieving coach friendly status, in order to encourage even more visitors to the county. 

MP highlights Co-op membership successes

* Susan Elan Jones MP with Co-op Group staff and representatives of the Stiwt Theatre and Wrexham Inclusion FC at the Stiwt, Rhos.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones recently met with Co-op staff and representatives of local projects supported by the company's membership scheme.

Ms Jones, who earlier this month urged Home Office Ministers to bring in tougher laws to protect shopworkers from attacks, visited Rhos Co-op and later held meetings with representatives of the Stiwt Theatre, Wrexham Inclusion Football Club and the Brymbo Heritage Orchard project. 

The MP also heard about the Co-op's nationwide programmes to tackle crime, loneliness and the evils of modern slavery.

She said: "There's a really strong Co-operative tradition in our local area. Like many people around here, I shop regularly at the Co-op and I'm a Co-op member too. 

"I think it's great to see how the Co-op invests in our local community. From funding to restore the Stiwt clock to its former glory to support for the remarkable Wrexham Inclusion FC to grants to help the new Brymbo Heritage Orchard project, the Co-op is doing so much to promote real grassroots community action."  

Michael Gallagher, area manager for the Co-op, said: “We were delighted to welcome Susan Elan Jones MP to our store. 

"The Co-op operates at the heart of local life and it is a special year this year as the Co-op marks its 175th anniversary. 

"At heart. the Co-op is about connecting communities, bringing people together and making a difference. We believe co-operation is as relevant today as it has ever been, and the Co-op is committed to creating and sharing value in the communities which it serves, while tackling the issues which its members and customers care about."         

Under the Co-op's membership scheme, members receive a 5% reward when buying own brand products and the Co-op donates a further 1% to local causes. 

In the last year alone the Co-op returned £79 million to members and their communities – £60 million directly to members and £19 million to over 4,000 community projects across the UK.

Railway launches appeal to buy historic horse-drawn dray

* The historic horse-drawn dray. 

Llangollen Heritage Group has been negotiating the acquisition of a historic horse-drawn dray dating from the turn of the last century. 

And it has launched a crowd-funding appeal to buy and transport it back to the railway for public display and operation during special events. 

The Great Western Railway dray was among the property of a deceased gentleman who formerly worked at the Swindon railway works. 

It was discovered in a domestic garage earlier this year in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire having been stored there since the early 1960s.

TV's Michael Portillo, a keen supporter of railways, has already voiced his backing for our project.

He said: "I am delighted to hear of the discovery and purchase of a very historic Great Western Railway horse-drawn dray soon to be brought to the Llangollen Railway. It will make a spectacular addition to the heritage artefacts on display and will bring great pleasure to enthusiasts and visitors."

Railway horse-drawn drays were used extensively in the early days of the railways to bring goods to a railhead or take them away. Many thousands of these carts were built before the general advent of commercial motorised traffic.

This rare example was built by the Great Western Railway and bears the works No. 3314. It dates back to the turn of the 1900s.

The design was classified by the Great Western Railway as a “trolley” and refers to the fact that there was no permanent seating arrangement for the drayman, as he was expected to sit on the load.​

* To help the appeal you can donate through the crowd-funding page at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gwr-dray?utm_term=eVG4AeDkx

New way to run county leisure facilities is planned

Various leisure facilities and functions provided by Denbighshire County Council could soon be delivered via an alternative delivery model.

The proposals for a council-owned not-for-profit trading company, which also involve the International Pavilion in Llangollen which is not owned by the council, could be operational as early as April next year.

Denbighshire’s cabinet is to consider the proposals at its April meeting and make a recommendation to full council in May.

The council-owned trading company would enable the service to trade more commercially, to help sustain the facilities, as well as making savings for the authority of £800,000 in the first year.

Apart from the Pavilion, the facilities proposed to be included are the county’s seven leisure centres as well as the Prestatyn Nova, SC2, Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl Events Arena and events function, North Wales Bowls Centre, Rhyl Town Hall, Ruthin Craft Centre, 1891, Café R (Ruthin) and Strategic Leisure.

Whilst the consideration of an alternative delivery model (ADM) is new to the council, many other councils across the UK are already using similar AMDs to deliver a range of functions and the Council has engaged extensively with these as the Denbighshire model has been drawn up.

Graham Boase, corporate director for the Economy and Public Realm, said: “We are very proud of our leisure services in Denbighshire. Investment by the council over the past 10 years has seen visitor numbers increase and our facilities are now first class and up-to-date, comparing favourably with the best leisure facilities in the industry.

“We have recognised the need for on-going investment at times of significant financial challenge, as we can clearly see the benefits to people’s health and well-being. We have also listened to the public as the demand for leisure sessions grew and continues to grow across the council.

“This model will allow a more flexible, innovative and entrepreneurial approach to commercial leisure, whilst allowing the council to retain complete control through the creation of a brand new board that will be responsible for running the company.

“This will ensure the company continues to deliver a high quality leisure provision long into the future, but as the company would be solely owned by the council it will be the council that sets the priorities for the company and the level of service expected to be delivered.

“As such the public should see very little difference in terms of the quality of the services provided or the ‘look and feel’ of the facilities themselves.”

If the business case for the plan is supported by the cabinet they will recommend progressing with the new company to full council in May, after which a number of further decisions will be required over the summer and autumn to ensure the company is set up in a way that provides the council with the necessary controls.

Chairman of the Eisteddfod Dr Rhys Davies said: "The Eisteddfod owns the freehold of the Pavilion and there is a long lease in favour of the county council. Any change to arrangements at the Pavilion would need the Eisteddfod’s permission." 

This position was confirmed by the council whose spokesperson said: “If the proposal is agreed we will enter in negotiations with the owners to negotiate new arrangements that will involve the new company.”

Skoda Karoq follows well in footprints of Yeti

* The Skoda Karoq.

* The all-black cab of the Karoq.

Skoda Karoq road test by Steve Rogers

If Yeti got Skoda started in the SUV race then Karoq is taking over the baton and is flying.

The Yeti had a name as wacky as the vehicle itself and became a huge favourite because of its quirky looks, versatility and value for money.

So should Skoda have given us a Yeti 2? Not really. Things have moved on drastically in the new SUV-crossover world and Karoq is a completely different car. Well, different in as much as it is bigger, has a more mainstream shape and is a lot more sophisticated - overalls versus trendy Chinos and polo shirt.

Karoq has been built for this new world and sits on the Volkswagen group's famed MQB platform, the one that fits uncle Tom Cobbly and all. Golf and Porsche Macan are not bad bed partners so Karoq is in good company.

Where does Karoq sit on the crowded SUV merry-go-round? In size it slots into the lower end of the medium compartment so its, Peugeot 3008, Seat Ateca, Nissan Qashqai, Renault Kadjar, Kia Sportage etc. In truth they are all much of a muchness and the one you choose may well be the company offering the best deal.

Crucially Karoq offers something different from Ateca, its close relative, and does not have to worry about clashing with VW Tiguan which has grown in size and price.

The Skoda has the Volkswagen group's SUV design DNA running right through it so it is middle of the road attractive rather than a head turner. Inside throws up no major surprises either. Compared to a Peugeot 3008 the layout is deadly plain, the plastics might be good quality but the cabin is bereft of colour - apart from black. Yet the layout is spot on. You don't have to go searching around, wherever the hand goes will find the right switch.

The seven-inch touchscreen handles all the major functions apart from the separate heating controls, which is good, and is the focal point that lights up the otherwise bland layout. They call it an infotainment centre now because it houses the radio, navigation, info about the car, Bluetooth and mobile phone paraphernalia. Call it what you will but its performance is exceptional with blurringly fast response times.

As for the content of the cabin, well that's a lot brighter. Yeti was famed for its versatility and Karoq is following in its footsteps.

Let's start with the seats, in particular the three in the back which are individual and slide, recline, and come out altogether although I couldn't work out how to do it even after the reading the handbook instructions.

Skoda prides itself on the Simply Clever promotional tag so Karoq is littered with thoughtful touches. The sealed mini rubbish bin that slots into the door pocket is perfect for discarding sweet papers and such like, then there is the removable torch in the side wall of the boot, a reversible rubber boot cover, pop up shelf on the backs of the front seats along with a variety of handy hooks along the side walls.

Karoq offers four-wheel drive, something else that sets it apart from Ateca, and as expected drives particularly well doing its best to cushion passengers from the many and numerous road blemishes.

I still think Ateca has the best driving dynamics of any SUV in this class but the Skoda will not disappoint and neither will the engine range.

My test car was powered by the impressive two litre diesel and was averaging 46 mpg according to the long term computer read out and nothing had changed after I had finished my stint.

As a caravaner this would be my choice but with diesel power in the doldrums there are good petrol options, in particular the 1.5TSI which is an absolute cracker.

There is only one minor snag that needs attention. The speedometer has no 30 mph digit presumably because the standard calibration is for kilometres. Selecting the digital speedo from the menu in the binnacle means you can use nothing else. A separate readout would solve the problem for UK drivers.

So yet another great car from Skoda and just the job if you are looking for something a bit smaller and cheaper than big brother Kodiaq.

Facts

Karoq SE L 4x4

2.0 TDI; 147bhp

0-62mph 8.7secs; 121mpg

56.5mpg combined

Emissions: 132g/km. Road tax £140

Insurance group 15

Price: £28,110

Eisteddfod gets £19,000 grant for heritage project

* The eisteddfod field in 1952.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £19,900 for an exciting heritage project, Archiving the Past.

Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project will be the first step in collating and digitalising the wealth of archive material relating to the festival so that it can be enjoyed by all.

Supported through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project will enable the eisteddfod to employ an archivist who will work with volunteers and children from Dinas Brân School to bring the history of the festival to life. 

Work will include developing a sustainable and expandable online archive system, educational resources and displays for use in the community and a short film about the history of the eisteddfod.

The first International Musical Eisteddfod was held in Llangollen in 1947 as a way of bringing people together after the horrors of the Second World War. 

Over the 70 year history of the festival a huge array of photographs, documents, audio and video has been generated and distributed across the globe.

This project will begin the process of identifying and bringing together in one location this wealth of archive material so that it is much more accessible and can be investigated by all that have an interest.

Commenting on the award, Barrie Potter, chair of the Archive Committee, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players and are confident the project will ensure that the history of Llangollen Eisteddfod is preserved and celebrated."

Director of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Wales, Richard Bellamy, said: "Archives have never been more important. They provide such a valuable resource for anyone who wants to delve into their past. 

"Thanks to National Lottery players, the National Lottery Heritage Fund is able to support projects such as Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod – Archiving the Past that are bursting with information about what life was like and how that has shaped who we are today.”

Programme of outdoor events unveiled

* A number of the events will be held at Plas Newydd.

The Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is promoting a series of events and activities in the area over the next month or so. They are:

Thursday May 2: 10am-1pm

Community Miles Route Sun Bank.

Meet outside the Tourist Information Centre in Castle Street, Llangollen for a guided walk of 4.5 miles around the countryside of Llangollen visiting Castell Dinas Bran.

May 4-6:

Llangollen Walking Festival, all within the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tuesday May 7:

Go Wild in the Dell. Curious Creatures. At Plas Newydd. Re-wild you child by taking part in nature-based activities. All you need is outdoor  clothing and wellies. Parents stay and play.

Wednesday May 8:

Bwlch y Groes short walk.

Meet in the westbound layby at Glyndyfrdwy LL21 9HN.

Discover efforts to conserve the declining curlew population.

Sunday May 12:

Guided walk Valle Crucis Abbey and the Pillar of Eliseg.

Meet ast Llantysilio Green car park.

Join the Friends of the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB to explore the abbey and 9^th century pillar taking in part of the World Heritage Site and industry that linked the canal.

Thursday May 16: 7.30-10pm

Evening walk to Biddulph Tower.

Meet in the Market Street car park in Llangollen.

Join a leisurely four-mile evening stroll to enjoy the setting sun, the calls of the curlew and far-reaching views of the Dee Valley from the ruins of Biddulph Tower. Booking required.

June-August:

Summer Trail at Plas Newydd.

Learn about the typical year for the Ladies of Llangollen by finding clues and answering questions, Prize of completion. Cost is £2.50 each.

Nature Week Tuesday June 4: 4-5.30pm

Go Wild in the Dell. Tremendous Trees at Plas Newydd.

Re-wild your child with nature-based activities. All you need is outdoor clothing and wellies. Parents play and stay.

* For bookable events, go to: www.eventbrite.co.uk and search: Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB. To contact Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB, call 01824 712757.